Make Your Own Halloween Candy

Halloween is just around the corner once again. As a Homeschooling family, Halloween means lots of fun in the kitchen. We make our own Halloween candy, we use store bought candies for crafts, and we eat it- a lot of it! Here are some of our family favorites Halloween Candies:

Tootsie Rolls
2 Tablespoons butter, softened; ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder; 3 cups confectioners' sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract' ¾ cup powdered milk; and ½ cup white corn syrup. Mix all the ingredients together and kneed the mixture the same way you would when making bread. Roll the 'dough' into a rope shape and cut into desired lengths. Wrap with plastic wrap and store in an airtight container.

Black Rats
1 package of almond slices; 1 package of chocolate almond bark; 2 jars maraschino cherries (with the stems); 1 package of Hershey's Kisses; 1 tube red cake frosting (or make your own); 1 tube white cake frosting.

Melt the almond bark in the microwave; ensure you stir frequently! Dip cherries into the melted bark and lay on wax paper with the stem sticking out like a tail. While still wet adhere Hershey's Kiss to the cherry, this forms the rat's head. Using a toothpick, dab a little bark in two places behind the head and adhere 2 almond slices for ears. Use frosting to make a red nose and white eyes.

Homemade Marshmallows
2 cups sugar; 2/3 cups cold water; 2 packages Knox gelatin; 2/3 cup tepid water. Combine gelatin and tepid water, set aside. Cook sugar and 2/3 cups cold water on medium high heat until you can spin a thread ( when you lift the spoon out of the mixture the last drop going back into the pan stretches out like a thread). Cool slightly, then add gelatin. Whip for 15 minutes until white and fluffy. Place into a pan that has been rinsed with cold water. Cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator.

Easy Fudge
¼ cup butter; 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips; 1 can sweetened condensed milk; 1 teaspoon vanilla; pinch of salt; Optional: ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts.

Lightly grease an 8 inch square pan. Over medium heat, combine chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and butter until smooth. Add vanilla, salt and nuts. Pour into greased pan, smooth out the surface. Refrigerate for 2 hours until firm. Cut into small squares and enjoy!

Marshmallow Treats
6 cups of cereal (Rice Krispes, Fruity Pebbles, Lucky Charms, et cetera); one bag of marshmallows. ½ stick butter. Melt butter and marshmallows together, add cereal and stir! Press firmly into a 9 x 13 buttered pan. Experiment with different cereals, or drizzle white or dark chocolate over the top for a variety of flavors.

You can make memories that last a lifetime in the kitchen by involving your children in these easy to make recipes. Start a new tradition, or add to an existing one!